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Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
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Published on: November 5, 2019

Impact of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in the UK

P Balmer, R Borrow, E Miller1

  • 1Meningococcal Reference Unit, Manchester PHL, Withington Hospital, Manchester and *Immunisation Division, PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
|October 3, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccines significantly reduced infections and deaths in the UK. Enhanced surveillance confirmed high vaccine coverage and efficacy, with evidence of herd immunity in unvaccinated groups.

Area of Science:

  • * Immunology
  • * Vaccinology
  • * Public Health

Background:

  • * Meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) disease posed a significant public health threat.
  • * The introduction of meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccines aimed to control MenC infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To review the impact of MCC vaccine introduction in the UK.
  • * To assess vaccine coverage, failure rates, efficacy, and herd immunity.
  • * To monitor for genotypic and phenotypic changes in meningococcal isolates.

Main Methods:

  • * Analysis of enhanced surveillance data from 1999-2001.
  • * Calculation of incidence reduction, mortality rates, vaccine coverage, and efficacy.
  • * Monitoring of invasive and carriage isolates for serogroup changes.

Main Results:

  • * An 86.7% reduction in MenC infection incidence and a decrease in deaths from 67 to 5 (1999-2001).
  • * Vaccine coverage exceeded 80% in targeted age groups.
  • * Efficacy estimates ranged from 89.3% to 91.5%; herd immunity observed in unvaccinated cohorts (34%-61% reduction).

Conclusions:

  • * MCC vaccines have been highly effective in reducing MenC disease in the UK.
  • * Enhanced surveillance is crucial for monitoring vaccine performance and population impact.
  • * No evidence of capsular switching from serogroup C to B was detected.

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